Kia Niro EV specs arrive - new design and platform, same battery and power

Kia has finally released details about the new Niro. For starters, it's no longer called the e-Niro, but rather the Niro EV, to go along with Kia's recent, and much better, naming convention. The model's multi powertrain lineup will thus consist of Niro HEV, Niro PHEV, and Niro EV.

The Kia Niro EV is the first car to be based on Hyundai Motor Group's new K3 platform, which has been designed for electrified and fully-electric powertrains from the ground up.

The Kia Niro EV is slightly bigger than its predecessor in all dimensions - it's 4420mm long, 1825mm wide, 1570mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2720mm.

However, in terms of battery and power, the new Niro EV is about the same as its predecessor. It uses a 64.8 kWh battery paired to a 150kW (204hp) electric motor, producing 255Nm (188 lb-ft) of torque. It goes from 0 to 62 mph in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 167 km/h.

The Kia Niro EV has a WLTP range of 463 km (287 miles).

Kia Niro EV front and back

The old model's 39 kWh battery option is now gone. On the plus side, the new battery offers reverse charging at up to 3 kWh.

The Kia Niro EV has a new style. The 17-inch alloys are new to the model and there's an optional grey C pillar that features an air tunnel underneath, to help with aerodynamics. The Niro EV has an impressive drag coefficient of 0.29 Cd.

A look at the side

The dash features two 10.25-inch digital displays and an additional 10-inch heads-up display.

A look inside

Finally, the Kia Niro EV packs more space than its predecessor - it now offers a front truck, worth 20 liters, while the boot on the back has grown to 475 liters.

The Kia Niro EV should go on sale in Europe and the US in August.

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